Track for suspension or cable roads



(No Model.)

0. CARR.

TRACK FOR SUSPENSION QR OABLE ROAD$. No. 374,865.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cHARLES oARR, 0E BOSTON, MASsAcnUsETTs.

TRACK FOR SUSPENSION OR CABLE ROADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,865, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed May 19, 1887. Serial No. 238,737. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES CARR, of the city of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Curves and Angles for Suspension or Cable Roads-i. e., roads having for a track or tracks a cable or cables, wires, &c., drawn tense or taut from support to support; and I hereby declare that the following is afull and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention relates to the device and its construction for holding the cable in its place in passing curves, angles, and its combinations, &c., substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

It consists, in general, of a shoe or bed-piece made to suitably support and grasp and retain the cable, in combination with the parts, substantially as set forth.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating an upper track or cable carried according to my improved method. The curve of the cable is supposed here to bend away from the post. Fig. 2 is a corresponding sectional elevation illustrating the lower track, carried by the same post in like manner. Fig. 3 is a plan of the cable track passing by a curve from one straight span or stretch to another, the curve in this figure bending toward the brackets and posts and not from them. In other words, the posts are'with their cable-supporting brackets on the concave side of the curve, or on the side toward the center of the circle of which the curve describes a part. Fig. 4. is an elevation and illustrates the application of my improvement at an angle where the grade changes. The view is of the track, with the bracket and supporting-post beyond. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the cable, its supportingshoe, and rail, with view of a cable-holding bolt and part of asnpporting-bracket, and the cable is supposed to curve, if at all, away from the bracket and any post or support to which it maybe attached. The view corresponds with and may illustrate a curved track, as in Fig. 3, or one with change of grade, as in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar view particularly adapted to a curve, while Fig. 5 is suitable for change of grade.

Like letters refer to the same or corresponding parts in all the figures. 5

The cable is marked A, the shoe in which it is secured B, the grasping or gripping shoe bolts 0, the track-supporting brackets D, and the posts or other supports E.

The shoe B is of iron or steel, and may be rolled, planed, or otherwise formed of suitable lengths. When practicable, it is well that a single shoe should be long enough to form an entire curve. -When it is not, they are easily joined by being firmly bolted to the rail F, which is a convenient form of support for them. This support F, however, may be of any suitable form or section of sufficient strength and stiffness. The shoe is constructed with a partly-circular or other suitable groove 7 adapted to receive the cable. One side ofthe groove should extend somewhat above the level of the cables center and Should curve slightly over its upper convex surface. The other side of the groove may terminate, as shown, some- 7 what lower down-say far enough to admit the cable freely, but not so low but that the base of the cable shall be well supported. The shape, however, of the groove is not of so material consequence. One of its sides, and the 8 one for the concave side of the curve, must in any event extend a little above thelevel of the center of the cable and the other be adapted to receive the grasping-shoe bolts 0. In the case of change of grade the shoe should be bent 8 to conform to the required angle and of sufficient length to grasp the cable with sufficient firmness to hold it safely down against the lifting tendency arising from the tension on the cable. It is bolted firmly to the supportingrail F, which is also bolted firmly to the supporting-brackets. The grasping-shoe bolts 0 will be found sufficient for this if put near enough together, though other bolts may be used, if preferred. I also use the steel pins shown by dotted circles in Fig. 3 and dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6. In the case of curves the shoe B is bent, as also the rail F, to conform to the required circle or other curve and in like manner bolted and pinned to each other I:

and bolted to the brackets, as illustrated.

The parts may be insulated upon the brackets or posts in the case of an electric way, as usual.

The grasping-shoe bolts are so denominated in consequence ofthe curved head illustrated, so formed to grasp and hold down the cable upon one side, as does the raised side of the shoe upon the other. The track-curve here shown comprises but a small part of a circle. The curve can, however, be extended to any desirable portion of the circle or be constructed on any desirable radius or on other curves than circles.

It should be noted that the shoe, as shown, having the curved lip for the cable to draw against, with a suitable resting-place or bed for it to rest on, may be used successfully in carrying the cable around curves, especially if the cable is given aslight declination from each end; but it is better to use the bolts (1.

It will be noted that with the device as described the change of grade or angle may occur on a curve as well as on a straight section of the track. The parts B and F may be rolled or otherwise made in one piece, if preferred, and the lengths jointed together in various ways, as in case of common railroadrails.

I claim-- 1. The combination, in a cable track, of a tense cable diverted from a right line by the continuous bed, having a continuous transversely-curved retainingdip extending above the center and terminating below the top of the cable, and vertical bolts having heads curved to fit the side of the cable, extending above its center,and terminating below its top, substantially as described.

2. A taut cable, rod, or wire embedded in a curved and continuous retaining matrix or rest, having its inner surface continuous from a point below the center on one side, of a conforming transverse curve,to a point above the center on the other side, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the clamping device, constructed with a continuous bed-groove, having its side extended upward into a hook; shaped continuous retaining-lip, and vertical hook-headed bolts, and a taut cable orequivalent fitted therein, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the cable or wire, the curved lip, shoe, bolts C, rail F, and supports, substantially as described.

' CHARLES CARR. Witnesses:

FRANK G. PARKER, D. N. B. COFFIN. 

